The Department of State Services (DSS) has given activist and Sahara Reporters publisher, Omoyele Sowore, a one-week deadline to withdraw what it called a “false, malicious, and inciting” social media post about President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
In a letter dated September 7, 2025, the agency alleged that Sowore made criminal and defamatory statements against the President in an August 26 post on X (formerly Twitter).
The DSS cautioned that if he failed to comply, it would be compelled to “take all lawful steps” to safeguard national security and public order.
Sowore, a former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) and long-time pro-democracy activist, had described President Tinubu as a “criminal” in the post, accusing him of deceiving Nigerians after claiming in Brazil that corruption had been eradicated under his government.
The DSS, through its Director of Legal Services, Uwem Davies, said the remarks have sparked anger among citizens and could “incite public disturbance, disunity, and even insurrection.”
“Your choice of words in the description of the President is false, malicious, and capable of inciting public disturbance, disunity, and breakdown of law and order,” the DSS said in the letter addressed to Sowore.
“These statements are to say the least capable of causing insurrection, as they are odious, repugnant, derogatory, and uncomplimentary towards a person occupying the highest office of this country.”
The security agency directed Sowore to retract the post immediately using the same X platform and with the same prominence as the original post.
It further asked him to publish a public apology in at least two widely read national newspapers and two television stations with national coverage.
In addition, the DSS ordered Sowore to send a formal representation to its headquarters at No. 1, Maitama Avenue, Three Arms Zone, Abuja, or via its official email addresses within one week of receiving the letter.
“Make an immediate and unequivocal retraction of the false and repugnant post through the same platform and with the same prominence as the initial post; publish a public apology in at least two national dailies and two television stations with national spread; and send your representation within one week of receipt of this letter,” the letter read in part.
The DSS also copied the United States Embassy in Abuja, suggesting the matter has drawn the attention of diplomatic circles, given Sowore’s dual residency in Nigeria and the United States.
The secret service reminded Sowore, who has consistently criticised successive Nigerian governments, that individuals seeking to play leading roles in the country’s democratic space must exercise restraint and a sense of responsibility in both speech and action.
“Persons of your status who are campaigning to lead this country as critical stakeholders of democracy must be of high integrity and therefore should exercise restraint and responsibility in their speech as well as action.”
“Such individuals and organisations must, in addition, tailor their comments towards promoting peace, security, and good governance in the country,” the DSS added.
The agency said its constitutional mandate includes ensuring that Nigerians are not misled by false propaganda and warned that it would not hesitate to take necessary steps if Sowore failed to comply.
“The DSS is a security intelligence organisation that has its mandate, inter alia, to ensure that Nigerians are not deceived with false propaganda.
“Consequently, if you fail to correct this false narrative, the Service shall, without further recourse to you, initiate measures it deems most appropriate within the ambit of the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” it declared.
